x24lubina. (2009, October 12). WET to dry dressing (courtesy of ATI). Retrieved fromObjectives By the end of the presentation, the patient will be able to:

Know the purpose of a wet to dry dressing change List the materials that need to be present prior to the start of the dressing change Describe the steps taken to change the dressingFeel comfortable demonstrating a wet to dry dressing change Demonstrate proper hand washing before beginning dressing change and after old dressing is removed prior to inserting new gauze

When Preparing to move old dressing - first lightly soak gauze with either Sterile water or sterile saline- this will soften the dressing to prevent new tissue from coming out with the (old) debridement tissue

If the dressing change is painful, take pain medication 1 hour prior to beginning dressing change A Wet to Dry Dressing change is meant to remove dead tissue and old drainage when the packing is removed during the dressing change Wash your hands Put on gloves (preferably sterile gloves) (see video below) Second begin cleaning the wound from the inside of the wound to the outer edges - you can use warm water and soap or a disinfectant your physician ordered As you clean, use a new clean gauze with each wipe to avoid bringing contaminants closer to woundAlways wash your hands!Before removing dressingBefore putting in new dressingAfter your done After your equipment is gathered, wash your handsPut on gloves Carefully remove old tapeRemove the old dressing (expecting debridement to occur)Remove gauze pads and packing tape if in the woundDiscard gloves and all related items in nearest waste receptacle InstructionsItems To Gather Before Dressing Change What to do Before you Begin Before You Clean Your Wound How to clean Your Wound How to Place In The New Dressing After cleaning your wound, put on a new pair of glovesPour your bottle saline into a clean basinSoak your gauze or packing in the saline and then squeeze the access saline out prior to placing the dressing inside the wound Gently, but firmly placing the new dressing in covering as much of the wound as you can If you see healing or new skin, avoid placing wet dressing on the skin to prevent debridement when the packing dries and the next dressing change is due After the dressing is put firmly in place, cover the dressing with a dry dressing pad Once the pad is in place, secure with tape or with a securing device that was prescribed by your physicianWash your hands after you are done